On Tuesday June 4, 2019 the Rotary Club of Pearl River awarded a record $70,000 in scholarships to 20 students.
The total amount of dollars distributed is the most ever for a single year in the club’s history. Each scholarship recipient will receive a check for $3,500 to help with college expenses.
Current high school seniors and student currently enrolled in a college or university, who live within the Pearl River School District boundaries, were eligible. (Regardless of what school they attend.)
The following are the 2019 award winners:
Ed Bouton Memorial Award Presented by Ed Bouton, Jr. Recipient – Manuel Arango
Laura Bouton Memorial Award Presented by Ed Bouton, Jr. Recipient – Katie Owens
Gus Pappas Memorial Award Presented by Chris Kormusis – Past President 2006-‘07, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Emily Dennis
Heinz Ahlmeyer, Jr Class of 1961 Memorial Award Presented by Jim Trojan – Vice President, Rotary Scholarship Foundation of Pearl River Recipient – Kevin Doorley
Donald and Betsy Brenner Scholarship Award Presented by Don Brenner – Past President 1995-‘96, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Julia Butterworth
Robert Beckerle Memorial Award Presented by Evelyn Beckerle – Member, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Sean McCabe
George Bergerman Memorial Award Presented by Nancy Bergerman – Past President 2000-‘01, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Kathryn Shields
Gene Erickson Memorial Award Presented by Ann Taylor – Member, Rotary Scholarship Committee Recipient – Samantha Oates
Raselle Fisher Memorial Award Presented by Eddie Fisher – Past President 2003-‘04, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Caitlin Holt
Joan and Michael Fury Memorial Award Presented by Bob Simon – Past President 2010-‘11, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Olivia Doorley
Jeffrey Keahon Memorial Award Presented by Jim Murphy – Past President 2013-‘14, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Matthew Heider
Henry and Anna Landgren Memorial Award Presented by Nancy Blasius Recipient – Sarah Hayes
Carol McGrath Memorial Award Presented by Chuck McGrath – Honorary Member, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Kerry Holt
Past President of the Rotary Club Scholarship Award Presented by Doreen Buonadonna– Past President 2017-‘18, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Ryan Murray
President of the Rotary Club Scholarship Award Presented by Mike Seidenfrau – President 2019-‘20, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Ashlyn Davan
PRHS Class of 1962 Scholarship Awards Presented by Bob Bergerman – Treasurer, Rotary Scholarship Foundation of Pearl River Recipient – Patrick Sammon Recipient – John Sullivan
Special Recognition Award in Memory of Joan Schultz Presented by Bob Bergerman – Treasurer, Rotary Scholarship Foundation of Pearl River Recipient – Megan Heffernan
Jo Ripa Memorial Award Presented by Miriam Beckerle – Honorary Member, Rotary Club of Pearl River Recipient – Brandon Kline
Fred Schroeder Memorial Award Presented by Ryan O’Gorman – Chair, Rotary Scholarship Committee Recipient – Jessica McDermott
Candidates submitted a detailed application and winners are selected based on: financial need, academic achievement, community service, extra curricular activities and a written essay.
The club held its annual Scholarship Foundation Awards Ceremony at the Pearl River Public Library on June 4th.
This is the 30th anniversary of the Pearl River Rotary Scholarship Foundation. Over its lifetime, more than 500 students have received over one-million-dollars in scholarships from the this home-town community service
In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was “the War to end all wars,” November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle. Armistice Day Changed To Honor All Veterans The first celebration using the term Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized “National Veterans Day,” which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans. The event was held on November 11.